Millage renewal under consideration

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has put off at least until April setting the date for a public hearing on a millage renewal request in support of the county’s E-911 Central Dispatch.

Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to ask E-911 Central Dispatch Director Jonathan Uribe to provide them a long-term financial picture, including the department’s potential major purchases and capital improvements over the next four to six years

Commissioner John Dobberteen said considering the agency has updated and modern equipment, and it has a comfortable fund balance, he would prefer hearing the report before acting on the millage renewal.

Funds to support the countywide operation will be levied in December for 2013. Renewal of three-quarters of a mill would need to be approved in August if the source of funding is to continue.

An update on the situation could come as soon as the commission’s March 30 executive session meeting.